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Showing posts with the label Thoughts on life....

Ephesians Week 6

 Ephesians 5   5  1  Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children   2  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3  But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.   4  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.   5  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [ a ]   6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.   7  Therefore do not be partners with them. 8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light i...

Does God work all things for good?

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He promises to always be good to me, for God is always good!  Promises about the Love of God - But God demonstrates His own Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom.5:8) J The goodness of God is found throughout the Bible.  His goodness is a promise we, His children, can stand upon. Psalm 27: 13- 14 13 I remain confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the  Lord    in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the  Lord ; be strong and take heart   and wait for the  Lord .        Land of the living-  enjoy the tokens of the divine favor here upon the earth. The prophet Jeremiah witnessed unthinkable horrors when the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem in 586 BC. Solomon’s temple was reduced to rubble.  With its destruction, the people loss their place of worship as well as the center of the Jewish community. ...

New Year's Resolution... Things to shoot for

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Happy New Year!  2015 is here!   I have a few resolutions for the new year, things to shoot for to make an even better 2015.  I want to  practice  an attitude of gratitude and make a conscious effort to find things to thank God for.  None of us are going to have perfect lives this side of Heaven, but we can still be to be thankful.   I am going to focus on the good and let go of the bad. I am not going to compare myself to others.  God made me ... He knit together my "in most being" ... my personality.  I have to be me. .. and not worry that I am not as neat and organized as other moms, that I am not as pretty as another, that I am not as smart as another, etc.     Comparison is a thief of joy because comparison tells us that we have been cheated.  However, we are not walking in their shoes.  We really do not have a clear picture of what their struggles are... even if we are facebook friends with them. ...

Living the Gospel life

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 http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/two-big-reasons-evangelism-isn-t-working John Piper recently posted why evangelism isn't working: “ Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” ( 2 Timothy 4:2 ). “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,  so that you may know how you ought to answer each person ” ( Colossians 4:5–6 ). “So faith comes from  hearing , and hearing through the word of Christ ” ( Romans 10:17 ). He goes on to say:  Paul says “know how you ought to answer each person.” This means that most of your gospel explanations will be different, not canned. It also implies a listening evangelism. How can we know how to respond to each person, if we don’t know each person? He drives his point home by saying: Love is inefficient. It slows down long enough to understand people and their objections to the gospel. Love recognizes people are complex, and meets them ...

Grounded (literally... and spiritually)..

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I am grounded.  Grounded because I can not run... maybe for as long as 6 months.  I saw an orthopedist and she stated that the fracture in my leg is much worse than the ER doctor thought.  I now have a boot I have to wear... all the time except when I am asleep.    I have to wear this boot and I was told to use crutches, but I was getting bruised ribs from using those. So, my husband rented a scooter that  saves my ribs and is just easier to get around.   That makes life so much easier... cooking, cleaning, living.... I went from this... (below)...    To this (scooter).... I have been able to use it to attend church, to go shopping, and even work in the horse-barn.   One of my friends has threatened to get me a teletubby horn. :)    I knew I couldn't do the crutches for 5 more weeks...or more.     So I am grounded... no running until the doctor tells me I can.   All I can ...

Who are Robots and who are not?

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 Who are robots and who are not? (A Theological question to some).    Today, people are taught by some that a Christian must be either a Calvinist or an Arminian. This is not true. I do not embrace some parts of Calvinism nor Arminianism.     The Bible is very clear that we will not...this side of heaven... fully understand the mind of God concerning much of anything..especially  sovereignty and free will. However, I do see in God's Word parts that concern man having a God-given "free will" to choose between good and evil and a free will to accept or reject Christ as Savior.   Some say we can't resist His grace.   What would it mean if we could not have possibly resisted His grace? Nothing.  God enlightens every man (John 1:9). God convicts every man (John 16:8). God draws every man (John 12:32). God leaves the choice to every man (John 3:16). Irresistible Grace, within itself, is a phrase of contradiction. If it ...

Love is messy; do it anyway

Okay...now that I have your attention. .... Loving people is a risky thing to do, a painful thing to do, at times, a discouraging thing to do, a disappointing thing to do...but we need to do it anyway. How boring and unfulfilled life would be if we didn't risk loving others! How meaningless life would be if we didn't allow ourselves to love people even though disappointment, lost, and pain is involved ...especially.....when we love and love well. Right now I feel there are so many people in my life whose hurts effect me. I am unable to forget their pain and problems; it just eats me up and makes me grieve. I am glad I have compassion and empathy for them, but God has to toughen me up. Perhaps this is what God is doing in this stage of my life... toughening me up.....maybe this is why I have friends who ...after 2 years....seem unable to get a foreign government to allow them to bring a 9 year old orphan home as their son....maybe this is why I found out that two of m...